Emotional scene as Logan Thomas gets Bills game ball after death of daughter

Buffalo TE Logan Thomas and coach Sean McDermott embrace after Thomas is given a game ball. Thomas’ baby was born prematurely and died this week. (Bills Twitter)

Buffalo Bills tight end Logan Thomas and his wife experienced every parent’s worst nightmare this week, after their daughter was born prematurely and died.

Brooklynn Rose was born Tuesday night, but Thomas tweeted on Thursday afternoon that she had died. The couple had announced earlier this month that they were expecting a girl, who would join four big brothers. But Brandie Thomas’ due date wasn’t until April, meaning she wasn’t even 20 weeks, half a usual gestation period, before Brooklynn was born. While over 50 percent of babies born at 24 to 25 weeks survive, the survival rate is incredibly low for babies born before 22 weeks.

Thomas, who is 26, missed one day of practice but was back with the Bills as they wrapped up preparations for Oakland.

After the win over the Raiders, coach Sean McDermott presented Thomas with a game ball in the postgame locker room.

As his teammates and coaches gathered around him, Thomas thanked them for their love during the week and broke down the huddle with, “Family.”

Earlier in the week, McDermott told reporters that Thomas’ loss “offers great perspective for where we are, what we do. We know how important [football] is, it seems like the only thing at times, but it’s certainly not the only thing. … You get perspective from a lot of situations, and in this case, inspiration. The way that his family has handled this, it really speaks volumes about who they are, and I am 100 percent that they will use this to continue to grow closer as a family.”

On Friday, Thomas spoke and said returning to work was helping him take his mind off of the situation.